Leafblowers are my salvation! 25 years ago, I moved to this house and spent 5-6 years raking a LOT of leaves in a yard with many obstacles and a back yard physically separated from the front.
It took me many days, and left me with blisters and excessive struggle with 2-3 sizes of rakes. (Those of you who rake smallish, flat lawns have NO idea!)

The leaf blower (I use electric) was like giving a cripp;e a set of crutches.

Almost any technology can be useful for some, given the right circumstances. I will NOT answer a cell/mobile phone while driving...or make a call. I pull off if needed. But having one made life a lot easier for my wife once when the car died way out on a highway. She called AAA, and got help & a tow and only lost 4 hrs instead of 8-9.

There is much cell/mobile technology today I'd love to play with, but I simply don't NEED it, as I am home most of the time. So I save my $$$ for TV remotes... *grin*